Amendment to law on privileges to former presidents withdrawn

The amendment proposed by Vilufushi MP Riyaz Rasheed to the law on privileges and protection provided by the state to former presidents, has been withdrawn.

Presenting his reasons for withdrawing the bill, Riyaz criticised former President Mohamed Nasheed and his party Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), and said that the bill requires revision. He said that the bill, if passed without revision, could cause damage.

The bill states that former presidents, if proven guilty of an offence that he committed while in office, will not receive any privileges from the state for ten years from the day he is convicted by a court of law.

Riyaz also proposed to deny privileges and protection for five years, to former presidents who are convicted of all types of offences after they leave office.

The amendment bill also states that any former president who, while in office or after leaving office, encourages or acts in such a way that threatens the sovereignty of the state, shall be denied all privileges.

The first reading of this amendment bill was presented to the parliament on 16 August.